Evaporative cooler water distribution system

Abstract

A water distribution system for wetting an evaporative media pad includes a nozzle spraying a stream of water onto a water distributor that diverts the stream into at least two different portions. A plurality of fingers extend in at least two different directions to direct the two portions onto different locations of the media pad.

1. A water distribution system for wetting an evaporative media pad having an air inlet side, an opposing air outlet side, a pair of sides extending between the air inlet side and air outlet side, and a top, the system comprising:
 a nozzle configured to spray a stream of water upwardly; 
 a water distributor located above the top of the media pad having a receiving surface including a plurality of fingers configured to split the stream of water into a first portion directed downward toward the media pad and a second portion directed farther from the nozzle than the first portion; 
 the receiving surface extending from a point of contact a sufficient distance to allow the stream of water to extend substantially across an entire width of the receiving surface; 
 wherein a width of the first and second portions of the stream of water is substantially equal to a width of the media pad as defined by the distance between the pair of sides of the media pad; 
 wherein the nozzle directs the stream of water toward the receiving surface at a non-vertical angle; and 
 a support plate comprising a first member extending from an end of the distributor closer to the air outlet side and extending downward and toward the air inlet side. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the first portion of the stream of water is not equal to a volume of the second portion of the stream of water. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is supported by the support plate. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , further including a second member extending downward from the distributor distal the support plate directing the second portion of the stream of water toward the media pad, wherein the second portion of the stream of water is directed closer to the air inlet side than the first portion of the stream of water. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 4 , further including a third member directing a portion of the second portion of the stream of water toward the media pad in a location different than the second member. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the first member and second member each includes a plurality of channels extending substantially between the inlet and outlet sides of the media. 
   
   
     7. A water distribution system for wetting an evaporative media pad having an air inlet side, an opposing air outlet side, a pair of sides extending between the air inlet side and air outlet side, and a top, the system comprising:
 a nozzle configured to spray a stream of water against a water distributor having a plurality of fingers to direct the stream of water therealong; 
 the fingers including a first set of fingers directing a portion of the stream of water in a first direction toward a first location on the top of the media pad and a second set of fingers directing a second portion of the stream of water toward a second location on the top of the media pad; and 
 a third set of fingers to direct a third portion of water to a third location on the top of the media pad. 
 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the water distributor includes a substantially horizontal receiving surface located above the nozzle being configured to split the stream of water and direct the two different streams of water in opposite directions. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the receiving surface has a first end and an opposing second end, and the first set of fingers extend proximate the first end of the receiving surface and directed downward and toward the second end of the receiving surface. 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second set of fingers extend from the receiving surface proximate the second end of the receiving surface and directed downward toward the top of the media pad. 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second set of fingers alternatively extend downward in two different directions thereby diverting the second portion of the stream of water to two different locations on the top of the media pad. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the nozzle sprays the stream of water toward the receiving surface upwardly at a non-vertical angle. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the non-vertical angle is between forty and sixty degrees relative to the receiving surface. 
   
   
     14. A water distribution system for wetting an evaporative media in an evaporative cooler comprising:
 an evaporative cooler housing; 
 an evaporative media having an air inlet side proximate a first side of the evaporative cooler housing; 
 a nozzle located within the housing and above the evaporative media, the nozzle being configured to spray a stream of water against a water distributor having a plurality of downwardly extending fingers splitting the water stream to direct a first portion of the water stream to a first part of a top of the evaporative media, a second portion of the water stream passing between the fingers and being directed alone a bottom side of a second member to a second portion of the evaporative media located farther away from the nozzle and air inlet side of the evaporative media than the first part of the top of the evaporative media. 
 
   
   
     15. The water distribution system of  claim 14 , wherein the second member extends from the fingers toward an air outlet side of the evaporative media. 
   
   
     16. The water distribution system of  claim 15 , wherein the second member includes a plurality of fingers.